A superb synthesis of the origins and development of aerospace activities in America. This is the place to start in any study of spaceflight. Click on the book for my more extensive review.

A basic, single-volume reference on space exploration.

A superb discussion on the development of rocketry during World War II, the critical technology that made human spaceflight possible.

A strong overview of the history of the space age from Sputnik to 1998. Click on the book for my more extensive review.

A very fine non-scholarly general history of NASA, and its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Click on the book for my more extensive review.

An excellent history of the relations between NASA and the commercial space sector. Click on the book for my more extensive review.

A popular rendition of early twentieth century rocketry.

A popularly written account of the Apollo lunar landing program.

The authoritative biography of Wernher von Braun, one of the great figures in the history of spaceflight.

The major work available on the institutional culture of NASA that received so much criticism in the aftermath of the "Columbia" accident of 2003. Click on the book for my more extensive review.

A basic history of NASA illustrated with works from the NASA art program.

An illustrated work of beautiful imagery of Earth from orbit.

An eye-opening history of rocket science, focusing on the story of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and its science, prejudice, politics, and marvels. Click on the book for my more extensive review.

A short book in the Anvil Series, this history of U.S. civilian space efforts consists half of narrative and half of documents.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning book analyzes the space race to the Moon in the 1960s. Click on the book for my more extensive review.

The importance of this book cannot be overemphasized in establishing in the public mind the role of the first astronauts in Project Mercury.

An excellent biography of the first astronaut to walk on the Moon in 1969, written by an historian of aerospace technology.

An Impressive analysis of the advocacy of spaceflight throughout the twentieth century. Click on the book for my more extensive review.

This is a joint project of the curators at the Division of Space History at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. It tells the story of spaceflight since 1957 through artifacts contained in the Smithsonian's national collection.